The borough saw a 5.7 per cent rise in the number of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs (76.6 per cent) and for the third year in a row more than half achieved these grades including English and maths (53.9 per cent, up one per cent on 2009).

Just under a third (30.3 per cent) of all grades achieved in Reading were A or A* compared to a national average of 22.6 per cent, with the A*-C standing at 76.3 per cent in the town. The national average was 69.1 per cent.

Reading School and Kendrick School, both non-selective, saw 100 per cent pass rates at A*-C including English and maths.

Mark Ralph, lead councillor for educa-tion and children’s services, said: “My particular congratu-lations go to all those young people that have worked so hard and done so well.

“Our grammar schools always do extraordinarily well but, accepting that five or more A* to C passes including English and mathe-matics is the key measure now, non-selective schools that deserve particular credit include Prospect and Reading Girls’ School, both of which have achieved marked improvements.”

Denefield School in Tilehurst was one of the schools in the town to achieve its best ever results with 51.5 per cent gaining five or more passes at grade C or above including English and maths.

Top pupils included Jake Foster who achieved eight A*s, one A and two Bs, Sophie Bunce who gained six A*s, three As and two Bs and Rebecca Shortt with six A*s, two As and two Cs.

Headteacher Glyn Whiteford said: “We give our warmest congratulations to our students and wish them well for the next stage in their lives.

“These results are testament to the hard work that they, their teachers and support staff have put in over the last 12 months.”

Overall West Berkshire saw 99 per cent of pupils pass at least one exam and 51.5 per cent of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at A*-C grades including English and maths.

Barbara Alexander, executive member for education said: “This is a fantastic result. Everybody involved in this impressive achievement is to be congratulated.”

Wokingham borough saw a 98.2 per cent pass rate with 78 per cent of pupils gaining five A* to C grades – a rise of 4.4 per cent on 2009.

The percentage of pupils gaining five A* to C including maths and English also increased by 2.6 per cent to 65.8 per cent.